Figure 1.--These Hutterite children are working and playing in a colony south of Calgary in Canada. Notice the home-made clothes. We think the caps and jackets are the work of one mother or this particular community rather than a general rule as is common with the Amish. Surprisingly they have a military look.

The Hutterites are another communal Anabaptist group. Their origins date to the Radical Reformation (16th century). They were founded and take their name from their charismatic leader--Jakob Hutter. The first Hutterite communities were organized in Austria (especially the Tyrol) and southern Germany. King Ferdinand ordered Hutter tortured and burned as a heretic (1536). Their discenting views on baptism resulted in persecution by both other Protestants and Catholics. They also developed a communal society in which labor and goods were shared--using the early church in Jerusalem as their model. Opposition to many taxes and absolute pacifism resulted in persecution by civil authorities. The result was first leaving Austria and later Moravia fleeing Austrian authorities, Their history is a communsl odessey through much of Europe ending up in the Ukraine--than part of the Russian Empire. Here they nearly died out (18th-19th century). A small group found a refugee in North America and while they were not free from repression, their numbers have increased and new colonies have been founded. The Hutterites today live primarily in the upper Great Plains of the United States and in the neighboring Prairie Provinces of Canada. Here they are organized into colonies of 60 to 150 persons which operate collective farms (Bruderhof). One Hutterite source tiday summarizes their belirfs as, "... respect for the authority of God. God has established a hierarchy of relationships, with the lower always obeying the higher -- the younger person obeys the older, the woman the man, and man obeys God. They feel that the individual will must be broken -- people should accept self-denial rather than self-fulfillment. But individuals are never secure before God -- only their daily behavior gives them security, not their baptism or verbal affirmations. Since the will of God is expressed through the decisions of the community, the individual must be obedient to group will. Communal living is God's order, and private possessions express man's greed."

History

The Hutterites are another communal Anabaptist group. Their origins date to the Radical Reformation (16th century). They were founded and take their name from their charismatic leader--Jakob Hutter. The first Hutterite communities were organized in Austria (especially the Tyrol) and southern Germany (Bavaria). King Ferdinand ordered Hutter tortured and burned as a heretic (1536). Their discenting views on baptism resulted in persecution by both other Protestants and Catholics.

Beliefs

The Hutterites are a dissenting religious sect with Anabaptist roots. Their theology is similar in many ways to the Amish and Mennonite communities. Opposition to many taxes and absolute pacifism resulted in persecution by civil authorities. One Hutterite source tiday summarizes their beliefs as, "... respect for the authority of God. God has established a hierarchy of relationships, with the lower always obeying the higher -- the younger person obeys the older, the woman the man, and man obeys God. They feel that the individual will must be broken -- people should accept self-denial rather than self-fulfillment. But individuals are never secure before God -- only their daily behavior gives them security, not their baptism or verbal affirmations. Since the will of God is expressed through the decisions of the community, the individual must be obedient to group will. Communal living is God's order, and private possessions express man's greed."

Life Style

Hutterite developed a communal society in which labor and goods were shared--using the early church in Jerusalem as their model. This not only involved communalproperty, but included how the children were raised--also communally rather by the invidudual muclear family. This is interesting given the importance of the nuclear family. The family is so imprtant in instilling values. Thisisso clear in the high rates of crimimality, violence, and drug use among African Americans which was notable wih the declim of Black families (1950s). At around age 3 years, Hutteite children transition into the colony's communal kindergarten (Kleine Schule). From this age onward, children spend much of their day—eating, studying, working, and playing—with their specific age cohort. This instills a deep sense of peer solidarity, belonging, and group identity. Communal living in Hutterite colonies profoundly shapes how children develop social bonds, internalize values, build practical life skills, and experience physical health. The Hutterite system relies on a practice called the "community of goods" (Gütergemeinschaft), where all property is shared, individual ownership is minimized, and child-rearing is split between nuclear families and the broader community. In contrast, communal living on Hutterite colonies acts as a powerful protective filter against traditional juvenile delinquency, violent crime, and illicit drug use. Because children are integrated into a closed, highly structured, and interdependent social network, rates of external crime and drug abuse among Hutterite youth are extraordinarily low compared to general society. The only Anabaptists to survive European persecution during the Reformation were these communal groups. The Mennoties groups over time have varied over the adoption of modern technology, but not over the communal life style. But only the Annabaptis to survived European persecution from both Catholic and Protestant churches. In America they are the only Christian communal group to survive. There were several communal utopian groups that appeared in th arly-19th century, but none survived long term except the Anabaptists. For most of these groups, the power of private property was just a drive that could not be overcome. The same of course was true for the Soviet Union. Just why the Anabaptist groups have succeeded, we are not sure, but probably reflects their rock solid Christian faith.

Spread

The result of the action of authorities in their native Austria led tp the Hutterites first leaving Austria and later Moravia where Austrian authorities also held sway. Their history is a communsl odessey through much of Europe ending up in the Ukraine--than part of the Russian Empire. Here they nearly died out (18th-19th century). A small group found a refugee in North America and while they were not free from repression, their numbers have increased and new colonies have been founded.

Present Situation

The Hutterites today live primarily in the upper Great Plains of the United States (especially in Montana and Washington) and in the neighboring Prairie Provinces of Canada (British Columbia and Saskatchewan). Here they are organized into colonies of 60 to 150 persons which operate collective farms (Bruderhof).

Language

Hutterite children in America and Canada are taught three languages--a colloquial German dialect native to the sect, High German, and English. We are not sure what they speak most commonly in their homes.

Toleration

The Anabaptists were among the most persecuted Christian sects. In part this was because they were persecuted by both Catholics and other Protestants. The rule was as a result of the Peace of Westphalia (1648), that religion would follow the faith of the ruler of any country/principality. And of course there were no Anabaptist rulers. The Catholic Church was right about one issue--Bible reading was dangerous if not a serious threat. Many Bible passages can be intercepted in two if not multiple ways. Thus if Bible reading became widespread, Biblical interpretations would multiply challenging Papal approved theology. This was at first a containable threat. Few people were literate and books were enormously expensive and mostly in Latin. This began to change with the printing press (c1450). Printed books were still expensive, but they became within the buying power of far more people than was the case before printing. And the Church was right, we soon began to see preachers challenging church doctrine, And then the Protestant Reformation broke out (1517). And Protestants unlike the Catholic Church not only favored Bible reading, but promoted it. And promoted translations into national languages that people could actually read. Luther was famous for translating the Bible into German. Bible readers not only questioned Catholic dictrine, but differed among themselves. And out of those disagreements came the toleration we now enjoy in the West. Early Protestants were just as intolerant as Catholics. Only Protestants reading the Bible kept coming up with new interpretations. The Anabaptists are a good example. And then the Anabtists. And the groups like the Hutterites that came out of the Anabaptist movement also began splitting among themselves. So eventually the Protestants figured out that they would have to begin tolerating each other. The Catholics took a little longer.

Education

Hutterite schools stress hard work, often farming skills, but tractors and modern mechanical implements are used. Children, if old enough, are taught to drive cars. Basic academic subjects are taught, languages, arthimetic, history, and so forth, but there is an emphasis on the practical. A strict rule of life obtains in Hutterite schools and infractions of rules often result in public punishment, pupils being required to stand up for an hour or so in church as examples of those who, for instance, have talked back to their parents or teachers, have disobeyed their elders, or have been dishonest. Most Hutterite communities have their own primary schools. We notice the Riverview Hutterite Colony School in Saskatchewan near Saskatoon in Canada. It is a residential school for both boys and girls up through the age of 15 years. We don't understand why a Hutterite community would have residential schools rather than the children living at home.

Clothing

The Hutterites are a little more flexible than the amish when it comes to clothing. Bright colored clothing is allowed for children to some extent (no pastels or pink, however), but dark colors are encouraged for adults, and there are certain conventions of dress that are strictly observed. Boys must wear hats out of doors and must never wear belts for holding up trousers. Suspenders are worn instead, although the suspenders may be striped. Unlike the Amish, the Hutterite suspenders are supposed to be buttoned to the trousers rather than attached by clips. Many of the clothes are home made. Jeans are not permitted, and trousers must have straight openings for the pockets rather than slanted. Girls and women must wear head coverings, often kerchiefs.

Created: 11:46 AM 3/14/2010
Last updated: 8:06 AM 8/28/2026